LETTER TO JAMNADAS GANDHI 125

the marriage difficulty, all the points can be settled without an
Act of Parliament.

If a settlement is arrived at, it will be necessary to discuss
the mode of admitting new entrants and the number for the various
Provinces. May I suggest that, if the solution suggested by me is
considered acceptable by General Smuts, you should telephone
to me, so that I can come over to Pretoria and a final letter set-
ting forth the terms of the settlement may be given to me* I make
the suggestion so that there may be no correspondence necessary
in order to elucidate any doubt that might arise as to the lang-
uage of any letter that might be given to me, and the question of
new entrants could also then be discussed. I have told you how
urgent the matter is, and may I rely upon your courtesy to let
me have an early reply?1

I am sending this letter per Mr. Pragji Desai2, who will be at
your disposal to carry any communications you may wish to
send me, and, if you require me at the telephone, you have only
to ring up 1635, and I shall be at the telephone from wherever I
may be.

Indian Opinion, 13-9-1913

89. LETTER TO JAMNADAS GANDHI

Jeth Vad 14, 1969 [July 2, 191?\

CHI. JAMNADAS,

You have asked me some questions about serpent-bite and
cited the experiences of others. What I say about this should be
treated as no more than my inference. It is not based on expe-
rience. The instances you have come across do not deserve much
attention. There may be something behind the cases of frenzied
shaking of the head from side to side, but for the most part they
are cases of fraud. I believe the same about cures of snake
[-bite] and scorpion[-sting]. Possibly there is something in them,
but one had better not go inquiring into these matters. We are
to concern ourselves only with activities that tend to spiritual
welfare. Everything else—even health—is subordinate to that.

1 Indian Opinion reported that, for a time, the negotiations were suspended
by Smuts due to civil disturbance in Johannesburg. When, however, peace
was restored, Gandhiji resumed the correspondence on August 11, 1913.

2 Pragji Khandubhai Desai, a satyagrahi